MANCHESTER — Two Chester women and a Springfield man have been accused of taking items from the locker rooms used by local dance teams on Jan. 11 at Burr and Burton Academy.

Maria D. Johnson, 39, of Chester, pleaded innocent Monday in Bennington criminal court to a felony charge of grand larceny and a misdemeanor charge of giving false information to police. John C. Ryea, 30, of Springfield, and Amber D. Wortman, 25, of Springfield, were listed as co-defendants although the misdemeanor charge was not filed against Ryea.

Neither Ryea nor Wortman appeared in court Monday but court records say there will be re-cited to appear.

In an affidavit, police said Burr and Burton officials reported the allegations Jan. 11. At the time, the dance teams from Mount Anthony Union High School and Springfield High School were using the locker room.

According to police, several items, with a total value of about $1,500, were taken.

Using surveillance cameras that show the entrance to the locker rooms, police identified Ryea and Wortman. Police said neither had a reason to be in the locker room.

A Ludlow woman gave police more information on Jan. 19 that tied Johnson to the incident. She said Johnson, Ryea and Wortman showed her items they took which matched a list of missing items that police had compiled.